Chickpea Salad (Tuna Salad Substitute)

Prior to giving up meat, tuna salad sandwiches were a staple of my diet. They're cheap, easy, and quick. A few years ago I stumbled upon a recipe on an online BBS for a tuna salad substitute made with chickpeas. I was dubious, but it actually turned out well. At a work potluck, we were doing a sandwich bar, and I decided to bring this in. I had it on my sandwich, but the meat eaters ate it as a side salad, and liked it a lot.

You'll Need:

1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 large celery stalks, chopped into 1/4 inch thick slices (or more, if you prefer)
1/2 an onion, minced
Mayonnaise or Vegenaise
Salt and pepper to taste

How to:

• Add the chickpeas to a bowl and mash lightly with a fork or potato masher. You don't have to smash it into a paste, but gently crushing the chickpeas adds texture, and makes it easier to put on a sandwich without the peas rolling off.
• Add the mayo and mix until desired texture is achieved (It shouldn't be swimming in mayo, just creamy)
• Add the minced onion and celery
• Add salt and pepper to taste

If you're planning on making a sandwich to take to work, I would recommend toasting the bread first, that way it doesn't get soggy by the time lunch rolls around. There are lots of other spices you can add to this for variety, a good one is curry powder.